Apparatus for indenting panels

ABSTRACT

A mounting clip having projecting prongs is installed along an edge of a wall panel, to permit attachment of the panel to a support member having means for mating engagement with the mounting clip, by driving the clip prongs into the panel edge either with or without prior indentation of the edge by driving similar prongs of an indenting tool into the edge. Pressure is applied to opposite sides of the panel adjacent its edge during penetration of the latter by the tool or clip prongs to prevent bulging of the panel sides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wall panels of the kind which areattached to upright support members by means of mounting clips on thepanels having prongs which are driven into the panel edges to secure theprongs to the panels. The invention relates more particularly to amethod of an apparatus for installing the mounting clips on the panelswithout bulging of the panel surfaces by displacement of the panelmaterial as the prongs enter the panel edges.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Partitions or walls in office buildings and other structures are oftenconstructed by attaching wall panels, such as gypsum panels with plasticfacing sheets, to upright support members. The panels are attached tothe support members by means of mounting clips on the panels, alongtheir edges, which engage in interlocking relation adjustable mountingplates on the support members.

The panel mounting clips are generally channel shaped sheet metal partshaving a web portion, a flange along one edge of the web portion, andprongs along the opposite edge of the web portion. The flange and prongsare disposed in parallel planes normal to the web portion and spaced adistance approximating one half the panel thickness. The width of theflange exceeds the length of the prongs, such that the flange has anedge portion projecting beyond the tips of the prongs. Each clip isinstalled in a panel by placing its prongs against an edge of the panelwith the projecting portion of the clip flange seating against the rearside of the panel and driving the prongs into the edge.

This method of clip installation is unsatisfactory for the reason thatas the prongs enter or penetrate the panel edge, they displace the panelmaterial outwardly toward the panel sides. This displacement producesbulges in the panel surfaces which are quite visible and detractnoticeably from the appearance of the finished partition or wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a method and apparatus for installing mountingclips of the character described on a wall panel in such a way as toavoid bulging of the front panel surface. According to one aspect of theinvention, this is accomplished by selecting a panel indenting toolhaving prongs similar to those of a panel mounting clip and drivingthese tool prongs into and from the edge of a wall panel to indent theedge where pressure is applied to the adjacent portions of the panelsurfaces to prevent bulging of the front surfaces by the entering toolprongs. The prongs of a mounting clip may then be driven into thepreformed edge indentations, on the job site for example, withoutbulging the panel sides. According to another aspect of the invention, amounting clip is installed on a panel without indenting its edge bydriving the clip prongs into the edge where pressure is applied to thepanel sides to prevent bulging of the panel by the entering clip prongs.

According to another of its aspects, the invention provides a machinefor practicing the above mounting clip installing procedures of theinvention. This machine has a frame mounting at least one mechanism,referred to herein as a drive mechanism, which functions as a panelindenting mechanism or a mounting clip installing mechanism dependingupon which procedure is to be practiced. The mechanism includes a drivehead for holding a panel indenting tool or a mounting clip, as the casemay be, with the tool or clip prongs disposed in a given plane of theframe and extending parallel to a given direction line in the plane andan actuator, such as a fluid powered ram, for extending and retractingthe drive head parallel to the direction line. Also mounted on the frameare means for supporting a wall panel in a position wherein the panel isdisposed on the clip plane with one side of the panel resting on thesupporting means and one edge of the panel transferse to the directionline and facing the holder.

During operation of the machine, a panel indenting tool or a panelmounting clip is installed on the drive head and the latter is extendedand retracted by its actuator. In the case of the panel indentingmachine, such extension and retraction of the head drives the prongs ofthe indenting tool in the holder into and from the edge of the panel toindent the edge for subsequent installation of a panel mounting clip. Inthe case of the mounting clip installing machine, extension of the drivehead drives the clip prongs into the panel edge to effect installationof the mounting clip on the panel. Retraction of the head separates thelatter from the mounting clip, leaving the latter on the wall panel

Each drive mechanism is equipped with a panel clamping mechanism whichis operable in timed relation to the extension and retraction movementof the tool or clip drive head. This clamping mechanism includes apressure member, such as a pressure plate, which is extended intocontact with the exposed side of the wall panel concurrently withextension of the tool or clip drive head to effect penetration of thepanel edge by the prongs of the indenting tool or mounting clip. Thepressure member engages the panel in the region opposite the points ofpenetration of the edge by the prongs to prevent bulging of the panelside by the entering prongs. The pressure member is retracted from thepanel to release the latter upon retraction of the drive head.

In the particular machines described, the panel supporting means includea conveyor for supporting wall panels for movement in succession throughan indenting or clip installing position. The machines have indentingmechanisms or clip installing mechanisms, as the case may be, along eachside of the path of movement of the panels for simultaneously indentingor installing mounting clips along opposite edges of the panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a wall panelmounting arrangement including panel mounting clips of the kind whichthe present invention is concerned with from the standpoint ofinstallation of the clips on the panel;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of the paneland a mounting clip;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting clip like that ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4--4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plane view of a panel indenting or mounting clipinstalling machine according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plane view of an indenting or clipinstalling mechanism of the machine;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 7--7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8--8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a panel indenting tool installed on a drive head; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a panel mounting clip installed on a drive head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning first to FIGS. 1-4, reference numeral 10 denotes a wall panel,such as a plastic covered gypsum panel, of the kind used to formpartitions or walls in office buildings and other structures. A commonmounting arrangement for such panels comprises mounting clips 12 securedto the panel along its edges and adapted for engagement with fixedupright support members 14 (only one shown).

Each mounting clip 12 is a sheet metal part of generally channelcross-section including a narrow web portion 16, a flange 18 along oneedge of the web portion, and triangular prongs 20 along the oppositeedge of the web portion. The flange and prongs are disposed in planesnormal to the web portion and spaced a distance approximating one halfthe width of the panel 10. The width of the flange exceeds the length ofthe prongs, such that the edge portion of the flange projects beyond thetips of the prongs. Flange 18 has a spring tab 22 which is formed byslitting and bending a portion of the flange, as shown. This tabprojects beyond the outer face of the flange.

Support member 14 comprises a channel-like post having a centrallongitudinal web 24 and flanges 26 joined to the vertical edges of theweb. The vertical edges of each post flange turn inwardly toward oneanother to form lips 28 which are spaced from the flange to defineintervening channel-like grooves 30. These grooves slidably receive theedges of panel mounting plates 32 which are slidably adjustable alongthe post and releasibly retained in adjusted position by dimples 34 inthe lips 28. Each mounting plate has an offset portion 36 spaced fromthe respective post flange 26.

Heretofore, the panel mounting clips 12 were installed on a panel 10 byplacing the projecting prongs 20 of a clip against the edge of the panelwith the projecting edge portion of the flange 18 seating against therear side of the panel. The prongs were then simply driven into panel.After installation of the several clips on a panel, the latter isinstalled by placing the rear side of the panel against the outer sidesof a pair of support members or posts 14 with the clip tabs 22 engagingbehind the offset portions 36 of the post plates 32 to secure the panelin position.

As noted earlier, the above described panel mounting arrangement andprocedure are known. This invention is concerned only with installationof the mounting clips 12 in the wall panels 10. As just mentioned, andnoted at the outset, the clips have been heretofore installed by simplyforcing or driving their prongs 20 into the panel edges. As the prongsenter the edges, they displaced the panel material toward the sides ofthe panel, thereby producing unsightly bulges in the panel surfaces, asindicated at 38 in FIG. 2. The present invention avoids the formation ofthese bulges.

According to the invention, this is accomplished by either firstindenting the panel edge with an indenting tool having prongs similar tothose of a mounting clip by driving the tool prongs into the edge andthen driving the clip prongs into the preformed indentations, orinitially driving the clip prongs into the panel edge without indentingthe latter, and applying pressure to the sides or faces of the panelduring penetration of the tool or clip prongs into the panel edge andopposite the points of penetration by the prongs. This pressure isapplied evenly over surface areas of the panel and prevents the panelfrom bulging due to displacement of the panel material by the enteringprongs.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a machine 100 for practicing or performing theabove mounting clip installation procedure. Machine 100 has a frame 102mounting actuators 104, in this instance hydraulic actuators. Eachactuator has a cylinder 106 firmly attached to a supporting base 108including a base plate 110. Base plate 110 is adjustably secured to theframe 102 by bolt and slot connections 112. Movable in the cylinder is aplunger or ram 114, the outer end of which is attached to a slide plate116 disposed in a plane parallel to the ram axis. This axis and planeare horizontal in the illustrated machine.

In addition to the base plate 110, the actuator base 108 includes a pairof parallel upright side plates 117 rising from and firmly attached tothe base plate. These side plates are disposed along the longitudinaledges of the slide plate 116 and are grooved to slidably receive thelatter plate edges to guide the slide plate in back and forth movementwith the actuator ram 106.

Attached to the outer or right hand edge of the slide plate 116 as thelatter is viewed in FIGS. 6-8 is an element 118 which may be a tool forindenting the edge of a wall panel 10 to receive a mounting clip 12 inthe event the machine is intended to operate as a panel indentingmachine, or a panel mounting clip 12 to be installed on a wall panel, inthe event the machine is intended to operate as a clip installing tool.As explained below the indenting tool may be a special tool havingprongs similar to those of a mounting clip or an actual mounting clip.In this disclosure, it will be assumed for convenience that the tool isa mounting clip. Accordingly, the element 118 will be a mounting clip inboth an indenting machine and a clip installing machine. For thisreason, the element will be hereafter referred to in places simply as amounting clip or a clip. The slide plate 116 serves as a drive head forthe clip 118 and will be so referred to in places.

Drive head 116 and the actuator 104 together constitute a drivemechanism which functions as an indenting machine and a clip installingmechanism in the clip installing machine. This overall mechanism isdesignated by the reference numeral 120. As noted earlier and shown inFIG. 5, the machine 10 has a pair of the drive mechanisms 120. Thesemechanisms are located at opposite sides of the machine frame 102 withtheir drive heads 116 in a common plane and movable along paralleldirection lines.

Frame 102 includes means 122 for supporting a wall panel 10 in theposition of FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 wherein the panel is located between thetwo drive mechanisms 120 and in the common plane of the drive heads 116of the mechanisms with opposite edges of the panel transverse to thedirection lines of movement of the heads and facing the latter. Thisposition of the panel is such that the prongs of the clips 118 on thedrive heads are located substantially in a plane bisecting the thicknessof the panel. The clip flanges are located lowermost with their uppersurfaces in the plane of the under panel surface. The panel supportingmeans shown comprises conveyor rollers 124 for supporting panels formovement in succession through the position of FIGS. 6 and 8 andsupports 126 on which the under side of each panel rests in the latterposition. Supports 126 include support bars 128 on the actuator baseplates 110 at opposite sides of the drive heads 116 which support theedge portions of the panel. These support bars are notched at 129 forreasons to be explained presently.

During operation of the machine 100 as it is described to this point,wall panels 10 are moved in succession along the frame 102 to theposition of FIGS. 6 and 8 between the drive mechanisms 120. Thesemechanisms are then actuated to extend their drive heads 116 toward thepanel. During this extension the prongs of the clip 118 on the head aredriven into the panel edges either to indent these edges for subsequentinstallation of mounting clips 12 or to effect installation of clips inthe panel, as explained more fully below. In either case, penetration ofthe clip prongs into the panel edges displaces the panel materiallaterally toward the panel surfaces, thereby tending to produce bulgesin these faces as explained earlier in connection with FIG. 2. Accordingto the present invention, this bulging of the panel surfaces is avoidedby applying pressure to the surfaces adjacent the panel edge portionspenetrated by the clip prongs in such a way as to prevent displacementof the panel material at the panel surfaces and thereby formation ofsurface bulges.

To this end, each drive mechanism 120 is provided with a panel clampingmechanism 130 for applying pressure to the adjacent edge portion of thepanel 10 during entrance of the clip prongs into the panel edge. Thisclamping mechanism comprises a pressure member or plate 132 locatedabove the frame 102 in a position to overlie the panel edge portion andmeans 134 for effecting extension and retraction of the plate into andfrom contact with the panel in timed relation to extension andretraction of the respective drive head 116.

Means 134 include bolts 136 attached to the pressure plate 132 andextending loosely through a pair of extending arms 138 on the actuatorbase side plates 117. Surrounding the upper ends of these bolts betweenthe arms 138 and shoulders 140 on the upper ends of the bolts arecompression springs 142 which urge the plate upwardly to its retractedposition of FIG. 7, wherein the plate releases the panel 10 for movementto and from its position of the latter figure and FIG. 6.

Pressure plate 132 is extended downwardly into contact with anunderlying panel 10 by a rocker arm or lever 144 between the actuatorbase side plates 117 and arms 138. This lever is pivoted between itsends on the arms 138 by means of a fulcrum shaft 146 for swinging of thelever in a vertical plane parallel to the direction line of movement ofthe drive head 116. The right hand end of the lever in FIGS. 6 and 7overlies the center of the pressure plate 132. Mounted on the undersideof this lever end is a rounded pressure member 148 which engages theplate to extend the latter downwardly upon clockwise pivoting of thelever in FIG. 7.

The opposite or left hand of the lever 144 is beveled to form a camsurface 150. This cam surface is is engaged by a cam 152 fixed to theupper side of the drive head 116. When the drive head is retracted toits position of FIG. 7, the pressure plate 132 is retained in its upperretracted position of the latter figure by springs 142. Extension of thedrive head moves the cam 152 against the cam surface 150 on the lever torotate the latter clockwise and thereby extend the pressure platedownwardly into contact with an underlying wall panel 10.

From this description, it will be understood that the drive head 116 ofeach drive mechanism 120 is extendable and retractable to drive theprongs of its clip 118 into the edge of a wall panel 10 in the positionof FIGS. 6 and 7, either to indent the edge or install a mounting clip12 on the panel, as explained shortly. During extension of the drivehead, the respective pressure plate 132 is extended downwardly intocontact with the upper side of the panel to clamp the latter firmlybetween the plate and the panel support bars 128 of the respective drivemechanism. The pressure of the plate against the wall panel is exerteddirectly over the panel edge region penetrated by the clip prongs andprevents bulging of the panel surface by the entering prongs. When thedrive head is retracted, the springs 142 retract the pressure plateupwardly to release the panel.

As mentioned earlier, the machine 100 may be used either as an indentingmachine to indent the edges of a wall panel 10 to permit subsequentinstallation of mounting clips 12 on the panel without bulging of itssurfaces or as a clip installing machine for installing clips on thepanel. If the machine is to operate as an indenting machine, theelements 118 on the drive heads 116 will be panel indenting tools havingprongs similar to those of a mounting clip. As mentioned before, thistool may be either a special tool or an actual mounting clip and, inthis disclosure, is assumed to be a mounting clip. If the machine is tooperate as a clip installing machine, the element 118 will be an actualpanel mounting clip 12.

Turning to FIG. 9, the indenting tools or clips 118 are attached to thefront edges of the drive heads 116 by screws 154 which pass through theclip webs 24 and whose heads are countersunk into the web. Mountingclips 12 to be installed on a wall panel are releasibly held to thedrive heads by clip magnetic positioning means 156 (FIG. 10).

The operation of the machine 100 is now apparent. Thus, when operatingas an indenting machine, indenting tools 118 are attached to the driveheads 116. Wall panels 10 are fed in succession along the frame 102through the position (indenting position) of FIGS. 6 and 7. Theindenting mechanisms 120 are then actuated to extend and retract thedrive heads 116 and thereby drive the tool prongs into and from thepanel edges to indent the edges. This procedure is repeated at theseveral locations along the edges where clips are to be later installed.When operating as a clip installing machine, the same operatingprocedure is followed except that the indenting tools are replaced bymounting clips 12. Conceivably these clips could be fed to the driveheads 116 automatically from clip magazines but, in this disclosure, areassumed to be placed manually on the heads. In this operating mode ofthe machine, it will be understood that the clip prongs are driven intothe panel edges by extension of the drive heads 116. The clips remain inthe panel when heads retract. The panel support bars 128 are notched at129, as mentioned earlier, to clear the clip tabs 22 when the panel isadvanced from the position (clip installing position) of FIGS. 6 and 7.Obviously the machine could be automated by providing means for feedingthe wall panels to the indenting or clip installing position andoperating the drive mechanisms 120 in timed relation to movement of thepanels to this position.

I claim:
 1. A machine for indenting an edge of a wall panel to receivethe prongs of a panel mounting clip, comprising:a frame, an indentingmechanism on said frame including a drive head for receiving anindenting tool having projecting prongs similar to the mounting clipprongs with the tool prongs disposed in a given plane of said frame andextending parallel to a given direction line in said plane, and actuatormeans for extending and retracting said drive head parallel to saiddirection line, means on said frame for supporting a panel in indentingposition relative to said mechanism wherein the panel is disposed insaid plane with one edge of the panel transverse to said direction lineand facing said drive head in a manner such that the prongs of a tool onthe head are driven into and retracted from said panel edge to indentthe edge by extension and retraction of said head, and means forpreventing bulging of said panel sides adjacent the region ofpenetration of said tool prongs into said panel edge during driving ofsaid tool prongs into said panel edge.
 2. A machine for indenting anedge of a wall panel to receive the prongs of a panel mounting clip,comprising:a frame, an indenting mechanism on said frame including adrive head for receiving an indenting tool having projecting prongssimilar to the mounting clip prongs with the tool prongs disposed in agiven plane of said frame and extending parallel to a given directionline in said plane, and actuator means for extending and retracting saiddrive head parallel to said direction line, means on said frame forsupporting a panel in indenting position relative to said mechanismwherein the panel is disposed in said plane with one side of the panelresting on said supporting means and one edge of the panel transverse tosaid direction line and facing said drive head in a manner such that theprongs of a tool on the head are driven into and retracted from saidpanel edge to indent the edge by extension and retraction of said head,and a panel clamping mechanism in said frame adjacent said mechanismincluding a pressure member extendable into and retractable fromclamping engagement with the other side of the panel adjacent said paneledge to prevent bulging of said panel sides during penetration of saidpanel edge by said tool prongs, and means for extending and retractingsaid pressure member in timed relation to extension and retraction ofsaid drive head.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein:said actuatormeans comprises a longitudinally extendable and retractable ram mountingsaid drive head, said means for extending and retracting said pressuremember comprises means operable by said ram.
 4. A machine according toclaim 3 wherein:said ram operable means comprises cam means.
 5. Amachine for indenting an edge of a wall panel to receive the prongs of apanel mounting clip, comprising:a frame, an indenting mechanism on saidframe including a drive head for receiving an indenting tool havingprojecting prongs similar to the mounting clip prongs with the toolprongs disposed in a given plane of said frame and extending parallel toa given direction line in said plane, and actuator means for extendingand retracting said drive head parallel to said direction line, means onsaid frame for supporting a panel in indenting position relative to saidmechanism wherein the panel is disposed in said plane with one side ofthe panel resting on said supporting means and one edge of the paneltransverse to said direction line and facing said drive head in a mannersuch that the prongs of a tool on the head are driven into and retractedfrom said panel edge to indent the edge by extension and retraction ofsaid head, said actuator means comprising a fluid powered actuatorincluding a longitudinally extendable and retractable ram mounting saiddrive head, and said machine comprising a panel clamping mechanismincluding a pressure plate over and parallel to said panel supportingmeans, means supporting said pressure plate on said frame for extensiontoward said panel supporting means into clamping engagement with theother side of the panel opposite said panel edge to prevent bulging ofsaid panel sides during penetration of said panel edge by said toolprongs and retraction away from said panel supporting means to releasethe panel, and means including cam and lever means operativelyconnecting said ram and pressure plate for effecting extension andretraction of said ram and plate in timed relation.
 6. A machineaccording to claim 1 wherein:said means for preventing bulging of saidpanel sides comprises means engageable with said panel sides adjacentsaid region of penetration to resist outward bulging of said panelsides.
 7. A machine according to claim 1 wherein:said means forpreventing bulging of said panel sides comprises clamping means forexerting clamping pressure on said panel sides adjacent said region ofpenetration to prevent outward bulging of said panel sides.
 8. A machineaccording to claim 7 wherein:panel supporting means comprises conveyormeans for feeding panels edgewise in succession through said indentingposition.
 9. A machine for installing a mounting clip with projectingprongs along an edge of a wall panel, comprising:a frame, a clipinstalling mechanism on said frame including drive head for releasiblyreceiving a mounting clip with the clip prongs disposed in a given planeof said frame and extending parallel to a given direction line in saidplane, and actuator means for extending and retracting said headparallel to said direction line, and means on said frame for supportinga panel in clip installing position relative to said mechanism whereinthe panel is disposed in said plane with one side of the panel restingon said supporting means and one edge of the panel transverse to saiddirection line and facing said head in a manner such that the prongs ofa clip on the head are driven into said panel edge to secure the clip tothe panel by extension of said holder.
 10. A machine according to claim9 including:a panel clamping mechanism in said frame adjacent saidmechanism including a pressure member extendable into and retractablefrom clamping engagement with the other side of the panel adjacent saidpanel edge to prevent bulging of said panel sides during penetration ofsaid panel edge by said clip prongs, and means for extending andretracting said pressure member in timed relation to extension andretraction of said drive head.
 11. A machine according to claim 10wherein:said actuator means comprises a longitudinally extendable andretractable ram mounting said drive head, said means for extending andretracting said pressure member comprises means operable by said ram.12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein:said ram operable meanscomprises cam means.
 13. A machine according to claim 9 wherein:saidactuator means comprises a fluid powered actuator including alongitudinally extendable and retractable ram mounting said drive head,and said machine comprises a panel clamping mechanism including apressure plate over and parallel to said panel supporting means, meanssupporting said pressure plate on said frame for extension toward saidpanel supporting means into clamping engagement with the other side ofthe panel opposite said panel edge to prevent bulging of said panelsides during penetration of said panel edge by said clip prongs andretraction away from said panel supporting means to release the panel,and means including cam and lever means operatively connecting said ramand pressure plate for effecting extension and retraction of said ramand plate in timed relation.
 14. A machine according to claim 9wherein:said machine comprises a pair of said mechanisms along oppositeedges of said panel supporting means for installing clips in oppositeedges of said panel
 15. A machine according to claim 14 including:apanel clamping mechanism on said frame adjacent each mechanism includinga pressure member extendable into and retractable from clampingengagement with the other side of the panel adjacent said panel edge toprevent bulging of said panel sides during penetration of said paneledge by said clip prongs, and means for extending and retracting saidpressure member in timed relation to extension and retraction of saiddrive head.
 16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein:panel supportingmeans comprises conveyor means for feeding panels edge wise insuccession through said installing position.
 17. The method of indentingan edge of a wall panel to receive the prongs of a panel mounting clipcomprising the steps of:selecting a panel indenting tool having prongssimilar to the mounting clip prongs, driving said tool prongs endwiseinto and from said panel edge to indent the edge, and during penetrationof said panel edge by said prongs applying pressure to opposite sides ofthe panel adjacent said panel edge to prevent bulging of the panelsides.
 18. The method of installing along one edge of a wall panel apanel mounting clip having projecting prongs comprising the stepsof:driving said clip prongs endwise into said panel edge, and duringpenetration of said panel edge by said prongs applying pressure toopposite sides of the panel adjacent said panel edge to prevent bulgingof the panel sides.